An ordinary day in Qingzhou city — except for two carriages that had just arrived.

The first was standard Division issue. The second was extraordinary — gilt and jade inlay, drawn by eight snow-white demon-horses each with a single horn on their brow.

Both pulled up at the Division compound and stopped.

Several figures stepped inside, and within moments a dozen or more sealed letters were dispatched at maximum speed to each of Qingzhou's twelve prefectures.

The turbulent weather over the province went abruptly, completely still. A situation that had been unsettled all at once became stable.

From each major prefecture, carriages of the same imposing design rolled out and converged on Qingzhou city.

As they moved into the city and the figures descended and entered the compound — each different in age and expression, each wearing the same black-gleaming armor and the same vivid crimson cape.

In the compound's largest hall—

A wide dark table extended all the way to the entrance.

As the figures settled, nearly twenty personal attendant Deputy Commanders quietly drew the great doors shut and stood guard with drawn blades.

The hall was somewhat dim. At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man in a plain jacket, an entirely unremarkable face, elbows on the table, fingers interlaced.

Three young people stood behind him.

Fang Heng and Bai Ziming stood with their hands clasped at their backs. Beside them was a young woman in white.

Along both sides of the long table, twelve Demon Suppression Generals presented their prepared files in sequence, then waited in silence while the middle-aged man went through them. Only one small girl beside him yawned.

Bai Ziming raised an eyebrow slightly, sending a coded whisper: "Condense a core yet?"

The middle-aged man flicked a hand. The beloved physician became like a pillar where he stood — only his eyes still able to move.

Fang Heng kept his head down, squeezing his fists to hold back laughter.

Lin Baixi glanced at the two of them with mild resignation, her attention seeming elsewhere.

Three months away, and she was finally back…